The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-08
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
An Attempt Upon His Life in 1S62-The Kid
naming COnsniracv.


mapping Conspiracy.
Alfred sorenson, in Wheeling fwest Va. Register.
II reading with great deal of interest
Ncolay and Hays life of Lincoln in the CenIu-
ry," said Mr.. John W. Nichols, ex president of
the Omaha fire department., to me. The chap
tiers that will most interest me will be those
lating to his career from 1862 to 1865. aid par
tcularly the history of the assassination. 1t is
not generally known that more than one attempt
upon Mr. Lincoln's life was ID ade in Washington,
but such is the fact"
Mr. Nichols's statement Interested me some
what, and asked him TO explain. He then went
on and told me substantially the following story:
In August. 1867. Company Il. e-nundred ana
fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers of which Mr.
Nichols was member, was detailed as body
guard Of President Lincoln. Up to 1864, owing
to the vigilance of the guards, Mr. Lincoln es-
capped all attempts at violence. The back of the
confederacy broken, good feeling pervad-
ed all Washington, and vigilance was consider
ably relaxed. II then conspiracies were
Matched and confsderates ran the city unno-
les.ed. The President and his family spent the
summer months at the Soldiers Home about
three miles north Of the city. whittier the body
guard accompanied them. 1t was the custom of
the President to remain late at the War Depart
ment, and after his work was concluded he would
ride on horseback out to the Home. That SYM
mer he had persistently refused escort I'M
aginng himself perfectly secure.
One night about the middle of August Mr..
Nichols doing sentinel duty at the large gate
to the grounds of the Home. About IL o'clock
he heard rife shot, and shortly afterward Mr..
Lincoln dashed up to the gate horseback.
The President was bareheaded and as he dis
mounted he said, referring to his horse: "He
came pretty getting away with me, didn't
he? He got the bit in his teeth before I could
draw the rein" Mr.. Nichols asked him where
his hat was, and he replied that melody had
fired off at the foot of the bill. and that
his horse had become scared and ierked his hat
off
Thinking the affair rather strange" said Mr..
Nichols. "a corporal and myself went down the
NIL to make an investigation. AT the intersec-
| ton of the driveway and main road we found
| the Presidents hat-a plain silk one-and upon
| examining it we discovered bullet hole through
| the crown. The shot had been fred upward.
and 1t was evident that the person who fired the
| shot had secreted himself close by the roadside.
| The next day I gave Mr. Lincoln his hat and
| called his attention to the bullet hole. He re-
| marked rather unconcernedly that it was put
there by some foolish gunner and was not in
| tended for him. He said. however. that he
| wanted the matter kept quiet, and aGlmonished
| US to say nothing about it. We felt confident
that it was an attempt to kill him. and we'll
| nigh successful one, too. The affair was, of
course. kept quiet in compliance with the Pres-
| dents request. After that the President never
| rode alone"
! Mr.. Nichols then went on to relate the circum-
| stances of a kidnapping conspiracy which was
| attempted to be carried out the next fall This
| plan was unknowingly frustrated by the body
guard whose quarters were Immediately in front
| OF the south porch of the executive mansion.
| eoui distant between that building and the
| Treasury, State, War and Navy Departments.
| just to the east of the quarters was tho guard
tent where portion of the body-gua remained
| on duty For reasons then unknown to the guard
| the tent was moved to the west end OF the gravel
| walk in the rear Of the War Department Short
| ly afterward it was learned by the guard that
| on the very night the tent was moved plan had
| been laid to capture the President as he shonld
pass along the walk, and carry him to the house
| of Green. notorious rebel the hank Of
| the Potomac, back OF the White House grounds,
and thence, when the opportunity offered, he
was to be carried to Richmond and held a
| hostage 1t was always believed that the moving
of the guard tent to tbs west end of the walk
frightened the conspirators and thwarted their
design.
AT another time not long before this incident.
Bourke, the veteran coachman, who has served
| through two administrations at the White
House, was taken sick. A stranger from Balti-
more applied for the place and succeeded in Sc
curing it in the absence of Bourke. He did not
hold the place very long however, as he became
so domineering and important that he was in
toerable. Bourke was reinstated. One night
not long after he had been dismissed. the dis
charged coachman discovered sneakine
about the stables. which were soon observed Il
be fire. The whole guard was called out and
by great exertions saved the presidential coach
and team, but Tad Lincoln's pony and Colone
Hays carriage team persisted. 1t believed
that plan had been formed for this to fir,
the stables aud during the excitement conspra
tors were to rush into the White House ant
murder the President. Mr.. Lincoln, however
rushed out with the rest to the scene of the fire
and thus frustrated any attempt at assassna
ton. What made this appear more evident,
said Mr.. Nichols, twas the fact that after tn
incendiary arrested he produced severa
witnesses who were employed at Fords TheateY
and who testified that he 1.-THE discharged coach
MANI was down in the city during the whol
evening on which the fire occurred These wer
the persons who, in my opinion. laid the fina
conspiracy that brought Abraham Lincoln t
his grave"